Helsinki, Finland

#WorldSynchro      #SynchroSkating  

The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships will be held in Helsinki (FIN) April 12 and 13. A total of 24 teams representing 20 ISU Members have been entered for the Championships. The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships have been held since 2000 and Helsinki has hosted the event in 2001 and in 2011 before.

Team Marigold Ice Unity (FIN) WSySC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 943097580

Team Marigold Ice Unity (FIN) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Finland tops the medal table with 23 medals, nine of them gold, followed by Sweden (13 medals) and Canada (12 medals).

Overview of the top contenders

Team Paradise (RUS) WSySC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 943076154

Team Paradise (RUS) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Five-time and defending World Champions Marigold Ice Unity (FIN) are looking for another title on home ice. However, the successful Finns have to expect stiff competition from two-time World Champions Team Paradise (RUS) that had to settle for bronze last year as well as from their compatriots Helsinki Rockettes (FIN).

Team Nexxice (CAN) WSySC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 943071186

Team Nexxice (CAN) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Other contenders include multiple World medalists Nexxice (CAN) and The Haydenettes (USA) as well as the up and coming squads of Team Nova (CAN) and Team Tartastan (RUS). Last year’s silver medalists and multiple World Champions Team Surprise (SWE) have ended their career and Sweden has no entry this time.

Team Haydenettes (USA) WSySC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) GettyImages 942763530

Team Haydenettes (USA) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

Teams from Australia, Austria, Belgium, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey are competing as well and the full list of entries is available here.

Team Passion (HUN) WSySC 2018©INternational Skating Union (ISU) 942719600

Team Passion (HUN) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 

The Short Program consists of six required elements: Intersection Element, Move Element, No Hold Element, Pivoting Element – Intersection, Move Element, No Hold Element, Pivoting Element - Block, Traveling Element - Wheel and Twizzle Element. The No Hold and Twizzle Element cannot be executed one after the other. The Short Program is maximum 2 min 50 seconds in length.

Team Surprise (SWE) WSySC 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 943084368

Team Surprise (SWE) at the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

The Free Skating program contains a total of ten elements. The following six elements are required: Creative Element – Lift, Group Lift Element with rotations, two different Intersection Elements, Move Element and Twizzle Element. The four remaining elements can be chosen from two groups: One element from Group A (Pair Element or Synchronized Spin) and three different artistic Elements from Group B (Block, Line, Circle, Wheel). The Free Skating is 4.00 min +/ - 10 seconds in length.

Event Schedule and where to watch

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, April 12: Short Program

Saturday, April 13: Free Skating

Synchronized Skating viewers have the possibility of watching the Championships on the following Channels:
JSports in Japan
Rai in Italy
YLE in Finland
ISU Skating Channel for the rest of the world

For more information, full entry lists and results please see the ISU event page and the official website. Follow the event on social media using the hashtag: #WorldSynchro